Special Mentions

Judges’ Special Mention Dogs at Play category Alice Loder, United Kingdom

Title of image: ‘Black Velvet’

Dog: Widgets Bonnie Lass aka Bonnie, English Working Cocker Spaniel

'This image was taken whilst out on a walk with my Working Cocker Spaniel, Bonnie. I very rarely take my camera with my on dog walks, as this is my opportunity to clear my head and have some ‘me time’. But the purple heather was just too beautiful to leave it behind. After all, who doesn’t love black and purple? - Alice Loder

Judges’ Special Mention Dogs at Play category Darren Hall, United Kingdom

Title of Image: ‘Sand Monster!’

Dog: Ted, Miniature Poodle

'This is my best friend, Ted the poodle. Ted is an absolute lunatic and is constantly creating moments of chaos and mayhem. This photograph was taken on Whitley Bay beach with the excellent help of Caroline Greener and her favourite ball chucker. Ted’s photos usually show him mid-flight or sprinting at full speed but in this image you get to see the exact moment Ted decided to stop!

I love the wave of sand he creates as he slams the breaks on but most of all I love his expression and focus on his one true love - the ball. I love you Ted.' - Darren Hall

Judges’ Special Mention Dogs at Play category Leslie Plesser, United States of America

Title of Image: ‘Water Work’

Dog: Thoven, Golden Retriever

'I am a photographer from Minneapolis, MN. I photograph products and people to fill my wallet, but I photograph dogs to fill my soul. I've always been a dog lover, but my true love of pet photography began when I adopted two rescue dogs as puppies and I photographed them playing and growing up together. I love how dogs never pose, and you can always read their expressions -- they aren't hiding anything.

This photo was taken the first time I ever attempted photographing anything under water. A friend opened up her pool to me, and we had the dog play fetch while I snapped photos beneath the surface. It was so challenging to get the focus quickly when the dog jumped in, but it was so much fun to try!'- Leslie Plesser

'My favorite dog named Amy is on the photo. Amy is the real terrier and has the character of a true lady - knows her value and has an ability to put her best foot forward with the highest dignity.' - Viktoria Baranova

'Tatti was almost 9 months old when this image was taken, but such a lovely character. She was starting her training to become an agility dog and so well behaved she made my job super easy. Making silly noises triggered a great head tilt from her, every time, which combined with the typical 'Spaniel lip stuck between the teeth look' just makes this image for me.' - Jonathan Yearsley

'My name is Alicja Zmysłowska, I am 22 years old dog photographer from Poland. My big passion for dogs is with me since always and I always try to show it in my art, showing each dog’s soul, their personality - their uniqueness.

This photograph of Tissaia, a working line border collie of my friend, at age of two months is showing how strongly focused, intense and even serious she is even though she is such a young puppy. Such a small body and so much power and dynamic in it is what I wanted to photograph since first moment of seeing her and seeing it in her - and what really made a big impression on me. She wasn’t a typical puppy that doesn’t know its body yet. I tried to emphasize this feeling with vibrant colours of spring in the background and foreground.' - Alicja Zmyslowska

'My name is Jarmila Eckardt, from Erfurt (Germany), I live there with my Dog Raffi. I am totally, 100% inlove with dogs. I adopted Raffi in 2011, a Pointer-mix from Spain who was a broken soul from a dog shelter. He is so unique that I started feeling this compulsion to capture every little thing he did: the way he turned step by step to trust people, when he learn more and more to trust me. I love it when he tucks his paws under his chest or rests his head on the pillow…the list went on and on.

This photo was taken on a Sunday morning during a cold winter morning. Raffi and I were too lazy to go outside, so we spend quality time in the bed the whole day. Raffi often enjoy the heat of a warm bed. He come from a shelter in Etxauri, Spain. He lived there more than a half year on a cold concrete in the winter season. That's why he like warmness all the time and we love to spend time together.'
- Jarmila Eckardt

Euan is 8 years old and lives in the countryside in Aberdeenshire with his parents and 2 sisters. He loves all animals and as well as Maisie, has a cat, leopard geckos, fish and rats.

His favourite thing is going for a family cycle with Maisie along the disused railway lines and stopping to find geocaches on the way. He loves walking Maisie and throwing the ball for her. He thinks she is the best dog ever!

The photo was taken after a big rainstorm in the playpark while Euan was waiting for his little sister to finish her football training. Euan and Maisie like splashing in puddles together.
(Words by Euan written by Euan's mum)